Cora brushed off her hands and surveyed her domain. A freshly plowed and sowed field stretched out before her. She could almost smell the freshly overturned earth which made her appreciate the technology of the game capsule all the more. She'd read on the forums that there were plans to improve it even more. The only thing Cora could think of that could be possibly improved were the instructions for her farm tools; not everyone was intuitive about growing things.
Thankfully Blue had given her a hint, and then she'd realized what Blue meant about the specialness of the rotten looking tools. As soon as she'd picked them up, the rusted and splintery tools had turned into smooth wood and shining metal. Using them had been truly simple. All Cora had had to do was make the initial motions, and the tools had done the rest. She'd just had to supply the MP to keep them working. Then had come much trial and error as she'd gone back and forth from game to forums to internet to figure out how to sow the corn.
That had been the most work she'd done in ages. Her MP hadn't improved all that much during the process, just enough to power her tools for fifteen minutes at the most. It had taken her almost three game hours just to do entire field. The only good thing about that was that the constant depletion and refilling of her MP had caused it to grow about four points.
Cora checked her status, and her gaze was snagged on the real time sitting in the corner. She bit back a curse. She'd promised Mr. Weatherbee that she would have lunch with him.
The field's countdown was six hours game time. That was just enough time to go have lunch and come back.
Cora logged out. As usual, she paused, listening hard. Then she flicked on the internal display. Her internal security feeds flickered into place, showing that her apartment was empty. With a relieved sigh, she opened the capsule, taking in a deep breath of lavender scented air.
She levered herself out of the capsule and wandered towards her bedroom. Mr. Weatherbee was old-fashioned. He would probably appreciate a skirt and heels.
*****
"Cora! You look as lovely as always," Mr. Weatherbee said, kissing her cheek.
"Thank you, Mr. Weatherbee. You look well as always," Cora answered back with a genuine smile. She casually sat down in the chair he pulled out for her.
"Bah! I just have good genes," Mr. Weatherbee said with a casual wave of his hand. He settled into his chair and glanced around the table. "Are we dining alone today?"
"No, Heidi and Lorenz are coming. Nate might come, too," Cora explained.
Mr. Weatherbee paused in the act of buttering a roll.
"Have you still not told him about the Gerald situation?" He asked.
"He doesn't need to know," Cora answered with a careless shrug. "Heidi said to order her the salmon and Lorenz just wants a cobb salad with a small steak." She shuddered. "How he doesn't get fat, I don't know."
"Some boys are like that," Mr. Weatherbee said. He took a bite of his roll. "Well, before they arrive then. Since you're nearly of age, you get the bulk of your inheritance released into your keeping." He laughed. "Though, you've been managing it for the last year so it's not like you didn't already have access to it."
"And for that I thank you," Cora said. She scanned her menu.
She also used that moment to discreetly look around the restaurant. The small bistro was full of people, and none of them were paying her any attention. That caused her to relax minutely.
"If there is anything I'm thankful for, it's that Gerald overplayed his hand before you actually fell into his trap," Mr. Weatherbee said gravely.
"It's the only thing I'm thankful for as well," Cora agreed. She picked up a roll and gently smeared some butter on it. "If he hadn't been so sure that I was under his control…" She paused and sighed. Then she shook her head and decisively bit into her roll.
"Small favors and all that," Mr. Weatherbee said. He looked over with a smile. "Heidi! A pleasure as always!"
Heidi Lowenstein was one of Cora's best friends. Her parents owned a chain of gourmet grocery stores, but she kept a low profile. Her mother was a staunch believer in not spoiling her only child. Her father believed in his little girl eventually marrying a good Jewish boy to get back in his mother's good graces. Heidi's grandmother hadn't been that happy when her second oldest son went to college and came back married to a nice Chinese girl.
Then again, as Heidi was fond of saying, neither set of grandparents were all that happy with her parents, but they doted on her. Cora's great aunt was friends with her father's mother which was how they met. Cora's Great-Aunt Jerry had been the one to raise her and her cousin Nate for most of their lives. It had been a dark, dreary day when she died.
"Mr. Weatherbee! My grandmother says to tell you hello and that she's still a single widow!" Heidi chirped as she kissed one of his cheeks before sliding into a chair next to Cora.
"And which grandmother would this be because I don't remember any funerals?" Mr. Weatherbee chuckled.
"Well, she also said that it could be arranged, but my grandfather said that he would gladly divorce if you'd promise to take her off of his hands," Heidi promptly replied.
"You can't steal Mr. Weatherbee! He's my executor. Hands off!" Cora broke in.
"But it would make us pseudo-family," Heidi teased. She glanced around. "No boys yet?"
"Boys will be boys," Mr. Weatherbee said serenely. "Gives me more time with two lovely ladies."
Heidi dimpled as she picked up the menu in front of her. She quickly scanned it and nodded abruptly.
"Yep, having the salmon," she told Cora who sighed.
"It wouldn't hurt to try something else," Cora said. She checked her menu. "What about the halibut?"
"Is it kosher?" Heidi asked, rummaging around her little purse. She pulled out a salt grinder sealed in a baggie.
"Oh, Heidi, really?" Cora reached for the baggie, but Heidi swiped it and held it out of her reach.
"And how am I to know if the person who filled them up wasn't eating steak or pork chops?" Heidi demanded.
"Oh, yeah? And how does your Grandma Xia Wen feel about this sudden strike against pork?" Cora shot back.
"When I'm there, I'll be bad and eat pork, but right now, I'm kosher," Heidi said, unsealing her salt grinder and setting it next to her bread dish. "Speaking of things we don't tell relatives, have you told Nate about Gerald?"
"Oh, would you look at these desserts," Cora said, burying her head in the menu.
"Uh-huh, that's what I thought. That's so not healthy, and I was looking forward to Nate beating the ever-loving snot out of him," Heidi sneered.
"Girls, girls," Mr. Weatherbee cautioned. He glanced over. "The waiter is coming."
Cora and Heidi settled down as they gave their orders. They even placed Lorenz's order of cobb salad and petite filet.
"You might have to go get Lorenz. For all we know, he'll show up in a shirt proclaiming that duck is delicious or something." Heidi picked up a roll and carefully examined it. "Do you think they used kosher butter when they made this."
Cora bit back a sigh as she stood up. Lorenz had a tendency to just pick up things from his laundry pile and throw them on. If he wasn't still living at home, Cora thought that he would look like those geeks from old movies.
It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the disconnect. Lorenz was built like a cross between Shemar Moore and Nicholas Hoult. Plus he played on the university basketball team before being kicked off the team because of the Gerald situation. He hadn't shown much remorse over it, winning Cora's lifelong friendship. He'd almost immediately thrown himself into writing papers for his senior thesis and his applications for grad school.
His mother had worked for her great aunt. Both she and Heidi had been surprised when they looked up one day to find that their childhood friend had turned from geeky to hot jock. He was still geeky but had less time between his studies and sports.
Cora hadn't taken two steps when she spotted Lorenz walking towards their table, a hostess providing helpful direction. She raised an eyebrow at the flirtatious girl and mostly oblivious Lorena before shaking her head and sinking back into her chair.
"And if you need anything else, anything, don't hesitate to call," the hostess said breathlessly as they approached the table. She pressed a small rectangle of white into his hand as she strolled away.
"A new friend, Lorenz?" Mr. Weatherbee asked, hiding a smile.
"She just wanted to make sure I got here okay," Lorenz said, picking up a roll. "Hey? Is Nate coming? You told him about the Gerald thing, right?"
"Yes and no, and you can't tell him either." Cora frowned around the table. "It's over, okay?"
"Not okay," Lorenz objected. "That idiot tried to frame me, but he can't read a calendar. I was playing against Minneola with the team that night." He snorted as he took a bite of his roll. "You ordered my steak, right? Medium rare, right?"
"Yes, yes, steak and salad," Cora assured him. "Well, we knew that he had a limit to his intelligence. This just shows it."
"Shows what?" Her cousin asked as he dropped into the only empty seat at the table. He flashed a smile. "They have the nicest hostesses in this place."
"You don't say," Heidi said, sprinkling salt over her roll. "What? I have a sodium deficiency," she protested as Cora and Lorenz shook their heads.
"Ignore the weirdness, and pay attention to me," Nate said, flashing a smile at his cousin. "So, what are you doing in the game? We got kicked out of our dungeon when the update happened and decided to resupply before trying again."
"Game?" Mr. Weatherbee asked.
"World of Glory," Cora said with a shrug. "Someone," she said, looking at Nate who grinned unrepentantly, "got me a capsule while claiming to be a newbie."
"Oh, Nate's not a newbie. He's been after me for months to play," Lorenz remarked absently, spreading his napkin on his lap as his salad appeared.
"Lorenz," Nate said, exasperated. "Only you would get your food early while we're all starving."
"We were on time so we have bread," Cora sniped. "I can't believe you tricked me into playing."
"But it's fun, right? You can't stay cooped up in that condo all day. Have you gone anywhere since graduation?" Nate asked. He signalled a waiter and quickly placed an order. "Well, have you?" He asked as he turned back to her.
"That's different." Cora cut her roll in half and placed the unbitten half on his plate. "I've gone out."
"Sure, you have," Nate said. He glanced around the table. "Mr. Weatherbee! It's a joy to see you!"
"As it is you, Nate," Mr. Weatherbee said with a laugh. "How goes your gaming? Are you planning on being gainfully employed any time soon?"
"I make money with the game," Nate said with a shrug. "It's enough to cover my utilities and Cora manages my funds." He brightened and snapped his fingers. "You're a freelance security analyst! That's why you're staying cooped up."
"No." Cora shook her head in disbelief. "Why would I go through all that trouble for others? It's hard enough managing our own money."
"Someone offered me money," Lorenz piped up. "All I have to do is play some game called Worlds of Glory and join this guild. It's tied to that team that was scouting me."
"So, in other words, they're trying to still sign you and are offering some guild as an incentive?" Heidi paraphrased.
"It would only be for one season, and I get to play on the off-season," Lorenz said with a shrug.
"In that case, why don't you just play? I'll get you a capsule." Nate happily pulled out his phone.
"No one is hijacking anyone into some game," Cora said with a shake of her head.
"Hear, hear," Heidi said, hefting her goblet of water. "But still, seriously, you're playing Worlds of Glory?" She glanced at Cora and then at Nate who was nodding smugly. "How could you not tell me!"
"You don't play," Cora replied. She flashed a smile at the waiter as he slid her meal in front of her. "Why would I mention something you don't play?"
"Because I could," Heidi shot back. "My parents are running off to the Caribbean for the summer, and it's just me because I wasn't about to go help them open more stores. That was so last year, and they didn't even pay me," she groused.
"I think my granddaughter is playing that game," Mr. Weatherbee said. "I'll ask her when I next see her." He smiled at the youngsters around the table. "It's nice to see you all together without fighting." He raised his water goblet. "To the new generation."
"To Mr. Weatherbee," Cora corrected. "Without you, Nate and me would probably not be here right now."
The others joined in the toast and then dug into their meal.